Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2019
Using protons in the MeV range as excitation source and a high resolution Si(Li) detector, X-ray emission spectroscopy is shown to be capable of analysing many elements with Z > 15 simultaneously at the 10-12 g level, This work discusses a theoretical lower limit of detection at moderate proton energies and gives examples of possible applications: analysis of the elemental composition of air-borne particles as a function of particle size, oil slick identification, and analysis of water and blood serum.